Michigan men find pieces of downed WWII-era plane

The Supermarine Spitfire was a popular single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Allied Forces during World War II, the only British fighter in production throughout the war. Check out LIFE.com for classic photos from the Second World War.

CASCO TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Four men say they have unearthed pieces of a World War II-era fighter plane in a southeastern Michigan farm field.

Jim Clary, his brother, Ben, and two men from the Michigan Treasure Hunters used metal detectors to make the find Friday in St. Clair County's Casco Township just east of Richmond.

Jim Clary tells the Times Herald of Port Huron the recovered fragments are from a P-38D Lightning that was piloted by 2nd Lt. Al Voss, a native of Elgin, Ill., assigned to the 94th Pursuit Squadron stationed at Selfridge air base in Michigan.

Voss died in the October 1941 crash.

The Daily Tribune of Royal Oak reports the men uncovered several shards of the plane about 8 inches down in the dirt.